Optical Device And Method Of Producing The Same

Abstract

An optical device of the present invention comprises a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element mounted on a support and a cured silicone material unified into a single article onto the support by the sealing of the element with a hydrosilylation reaction curable silicone composition, and is characterized in that the surface of the cured silicone material has been treated with an organopolysiloxane that has at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in one molecule. The optical device is resistant to the adherence of dust and dirt due to an inhibition of the stickiness of the surface of a cured silicone material that seals a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element mounted on a support and has thereby been unified into a single body onto the support.

1 . An optical device comprising a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element mounted on a support and a cured silicone material unified into a single article onto the support by the sealing of the element with a hydrosilylation reaction curable silicone composition, the optical device being characterized in that the surface of the cured silicone material has been treated with an organopolysiloxane that has at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in one molecule. 
     
     
         2 . The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the organopolysiloxane is a methylhydrogenpolysiloxane endblocked at both molecular chain terminals by the trimethylsiloxy groups, a copolymer of dimethylsiloxane and methylhydrogensiloxane endblocked at both molecular chain terminals by the trimethylsiloxy groups, or a polysiloxane comprising the unit represented by the formula: SiO 4/2  and the unit represented by the formula: H(CH 3 ) 2 SiO 1/2 . 
     
     
         3 . The optical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cured silicone material has the shape of a convex lens. 
     
     
         4 . A method of producing an optical device that has a cured silicone material unified therewith by filling a hydrosilylation reaction curable silicone composition onto a release film in a mold, wherein the mold has a cavity positioned opposite a light-emitting element or a light-receiving element that is mounted on a support and the mold is in intimate contact with the release film wherein the release film is deformed into the shape of the cavity, and by then molding the composition with the support pressed against the mold, the method of producing an optical device being characterized by preliminarily coating an organopolysiloxane that has at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in one molecule on the surface of the release film that will come into contact with the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of producing an optical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the release film is a fluororesin film, a polyester resin film, or a polyolefin resin film. 
     
     
         6 . The method of producing an optical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the organopolysiloxane is a methylhydrogenpolysiloxane endblocked at both molecular chain terminals by the trimethylsiloxy groups, a copolymer of dimethylsiloxane and methylhydrogensiloxane endblocked at both molecular chain terminals by the trimethylsiloxy groups, or a polysiloxane comprising the unit represented by the formula: SiO 4/2  and the unit represented by the formula: H(CH 3 ) 2 SiO 1/2 . 
     
     
         7 . The method of producing an optical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the rate of coating by the organopolysiloxane is 0.01 to 10 g per 1 m 2 .